Half models from the Dutch Navy: Production and function

This study investigates the function of bracket models within the maritime collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. These half models, depicting the frames and ribbands of ship hulls, were transferred from the Navy Model Room in the 1880s. While bracket models are believed to have played a role in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Dutch shipbuilding, their exact purpose remains uncertain. To elucidate their function, the authors examined the tool marks and construction features of individual models and compared them with historical ship-design drawings. The reconstruction of a bracket model was undertaken, and historical Navy Archives were consulted. The findings suggest that these models may have served multiple purposes, such as checking two-dimensional designs, facilitating the translation of drawings into three-dimensional forms, and representing technological advancements in shipbuilding. This research underscores the value of combining object-based analysis with historical documentation, and highlights the importance of reconstructions in understanding the production processes of historical objects.